The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16
A BEGGAR'S ROMANCE.
BY VIRGIL D. EATON.

BY VIRGIL D. EATON.
For two years l knew him as "the
mau with the light brown whiskcrs,"
saw him ;s such, thought of him as
such, and as such 1 bestowed an occa,
sional dime, in response to his piteous
appeals.
He was the most artful, seductive beg,
gar ever knew, and I have met many
men who told plausible stories that
would wiring pennies from miser. -
I met him at the entrance of the Office
one evening as I was going home. He
wss about thirty-6ve, slim and tall,
and, in spite of his evident poverty,
rather g ntlemanly. Above all else he
was perfectly sober. and his big blue
eyes was as clear and bright as the orbs
of saint undergoing martyrdom. 1t
was pitiful story. A sick wife, twin
girls, no work, starvation. and, to crown
his agony, he was once reporter, who
had seen the world and been at two
Presidential inaugurations. gave him
my last quarter and walked home to my
room, and the next day borrowed
enough of my landlady to get me a
breakfast.
Six months later he accosted me on
Wavcrly Place with the same story,
save that he was compositor instead of
a reporter. The twins and sick wife
were there rs before. When told him
the circumstances of our former meeting
he said I-had-a aew suit of clothes and
la LII I'm 10 al
in the hospital, and his memory was
failing. The twins were starving, as
usual, and he got another quarter. He
also got some advice to ''b ,Y glue and
make his stories cling together, which
made him look very sad. never met q
healthy man who could stand abuse any
better.
The summer of 1874 was putting on its
new suit when the city editor sent Inc
away toward Jamaica to interview q
nurse who had attended prominent
Long Island millionaire. The door oi
this dingy, wooden house was open,
and the voices of children at play came
from the upper landing. I assembled,
and saw two slim. little girls romping in
the hall. They were about five years OF
age, tall aud graceful, with large, clear
blue eyes, such as had seen somewhere
before. They would have been very
beautiful had it not been for BIZ, livid
scar on the cheek of each. 1 had just
time to notice that tn Sc great scars
were in four parallel bands, as if the chill.
dren had fallen down and burned their
faces on hot grid iron. and then door
opened and little, sickly woman came
out and called the children in.
what do you want. sir" she de-
manded of me in much agitation. "Why
do you come sncaking around here to
look at my poor babies! You cannot
have them. 1 will tell everybody so,
and mean it. will not have them eS-
hibited for thousand dollars a week,
and I need the money, too."
l assured her that had no motive in
looking at her children, though thought
they were very pretty. This Modified
her, and I asked if she could tell me
where Mr.. Hand ng, the nurse, roomcd.
] had heard he was lodger in the
house.
''Silas," said she. and in response to
whiskers came to the door. He glanced
at me and slammed the door in my face.
Several nights later went to dime
museum to write up notice for the
morning paper. The advertising agcn,
gave me seat where could see all that
was going on without being observed.
The sh0rt-skirtcd girl was hardly done
hc- singing when l heard a very ami
mated conversation going on behind the
cloth partition that separated me from
the dressing room.
II will give you ono hundred dollar;
week and all your expenses, y" said one
voice. "Ycu and your wife can 80 witt
them and ca, e for them. 1t is big offer
and tie last one l shall make. You'll
think of this when you are hungry, ant
wish you had accepted it,
Il am hungry now-ncarly starving,
came the reply; 'but if there were bu
this way for me to gain salvation woulc
leap into everlasting fire before | woule
accept. No, no, nc. Font tempt me.
herd a shambling step come out O
the d essing room, and emerged in time
70 intercept my man with the light side
whi>kers. I took his arm lie wa:
shaking so he could hardly stand. With
at his offering to Object, led, almost
bore. him to Il restaurant and ordered
supper :or two. He ale like Il ravenous
dog, fairly swallowing his food whole
Under the influence of Bass's ale he tolc
ME an outline of his life and the caus'
of his misery.
le was q foreman in mill away VI
in little New Hampshire village. H,
married the prop. ictor's daughter, ane
became bookkecpcr. When his wife
father died her brother received all tn
property by will. For two years he wa
q bookkeeper for his brother -in-law
One night feeling the need of none,
and thinkin his brother-in-law shoulo
ct lea t help him in getting along. h'